Influence of personal mobile phone ringing and usual intention to answer on driver error

The effect of mobile phone ringtone on visual recognition during driving: Evidence from laboratory and real-scene eye movement experiments

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of mobile phone ringtones on visual recognition during driving, laboratory and real-scene eye movement experiments were conducted with simulated and real driving tasks, respectively. Competition for visual attention during driving increases with the integration of sounds, which is related to driving safety.

METHOD

We manipulated the physical (long exposure duration vs. short exposure duration) and psychological (self-related vs. non-self-related) properties of mobile phone ringtones presented to drivers. Estimates were based on linear mixed models (LMMs) and generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs).

RESULTS

Self-related ringtones had a greater influence on driving attention than non-self-related ones, and the interaction between exposure duration and self-relatedness was significant. Furthermore, the impact of the mobile phone ringtone occurred in real time after the ringtone stopped.

CONCLUSION

These results highlight the importance of considering the impact of ringtones on driving performance and demonstrate that ringtone properties (exposure duration and self-relatedness) can affect cognitive processes.

Mobile phone use among truck drivers: The application and extension of the theory of planned behavior

Commercial truck drivers are particularly exposed to the risks associated with distracted driving, especially with mobile phone use while driving (MPWD), due to their higher driving exposure (DE) (e.g., high driving frequency, long driving hours and distance). However, despite being identified as one of the major causes in truck crashes, truck drivers' MPWD behavior has received little attention. In the current work, the theory of planned behavior (TPB), extended with DE, was applied to explore the determinants of MPWD among commercial truck drivers in China and examine the correlations between drivers' DE and psychological factors. We conducted an Internet survey and collected 420 valid questionnaires, which measured truck drivers' 5 standard TPB variables, DE and demographics. Structural equation modelling was used to analyze the data from the survey. The results showed strong support for the application of the proposed TPB model in explaining truck drivers' MPWD behavior. Specifically, truck drivers' behavioral intention (BI) had the greatest direct positive effect on MPWD behavior, while perceived behavioral control (PBC) had no direct positive effect. Moreover, PBC, attitude (ATT) and DE were significantly and positively associated with BI, while subjective norm was insignificant. As expected, DE has significant positive effects on truck drivers' psychological factors underlying MPWD behavior, especially on ATT and PBC, indicating that truck drivers with higher DE tend to have more positive attitudes toward MPWD and feel more confident about performing this risky behavior. These results may have notable practical implications in providing theoretical support for management and intervention of commercial truck drivers.

Talking on the Phone While Driving: A Literature Review on Driving Simulator Studies

Distracted driving is a growing concern around the world and has been the focus of many naturalistic and simulator-based studies. Driving simulators provide excellent practical and theoretical help in studying the driving process, and considerable efforts have been made to prove their validity. This research aimed to review relevant simulator-based studies focused on investigating the effects of the talking-on-the-phone-while-driving distraction on drivers' behavior. This work is a scoping review which followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. The search was performed on five databases, covering twenty years of research results. It was focused on finding answers to three research questions that could offer an overview of the main sources of distraction, the research infrastructure, and the measures that were used to analyze and predict the effects of distractions. A number of 4332 studies were identified in the database search, from which 83 were included in the review. The main findings revealed that TPWD distraction negatively affects driving performance, exposing drivers to dangerous traffic situations. Moreover, there is a general understanding that the driver's cognitive, manual, visual, and auditory resources are all involved, to a certain degree, when executing a secondary task while driving.

New Technology Evokes Old Memories: Frequent Smartphone Use Increases Feeling of Nostalgia

In the era of technology, smartphone use occupies an important position in our lives. The present research focused on the psychological consequence of frequent smartphone use and possible way to remedy it. We proposed that frequent smartphone use could damage people's sense of control and in turn trigger nostalgia. Moreover, nostalgia could directly compensate for the low sense of control induced by frequent smartphone use. Five studies (N = 918) were conducted. Study 1 found through a field study that frequent smartphone use increases nostalgia. Studies 2 and 3 found through 14-day tracking and a laboratory experiment that frequent smartphone use decreased people's sense of control and then triggered nostalgia. Furthermore, nostalgia could enhance the low sense of control, and it worked by increasing self-esteem (Studies 4 and 5). The findings show the negative impact of frequent smartphone use, and nostalgia is an effective way to remedy it without preventing people from using smartphones.

Characterizing phone usage while driving: Safety impact from road and operational perspectives using factor analysis

Phone use while driving (PUWD) is one of the most crucial factors of distraction related traffic crashes. This study utilized an unsupervised learning method, known as factor analysis, on a unique distracted driving dataset to understand PUWD behavior from the roadway geometry and operational perspectives. The results indicate that the presence of a shoulder, median, and access control on the relatively higher functional class roadways could encourage more PUWD events. The roadways with relatively lower speed limits could have high PUWD event occurrences if the variation in operating speed is high. The results also confirm the correlations between the frequency of PUWD events and the frequency of distracted crashes. This relationship is strong on urban roadways. For rural roadways, this correlation is only strong on the roadways with a large amount of PUWD events. The findings could help transportation agencies to identify suitable countermeasures in reducing distraction related crashes. Moreover, this study provides researchers a new perspective to study PUWD behavior rather than only focus on drivers' personalities.

Evaluating Community-Based Programs in Promoting Traffic Behaviors and Safe Road Crossing Behaviors in Youth: An Application on Theory of Planned Behavior

BACKGROUND

Today, one of the most serious causes of mortality and disability among youth is the traffic accidents. Regarding its importance, this paper aimed to investigate the community-based program to promote the safe traffic behaviors among youth.

METHODS

This was a quasi-experimental conducted on 5000 youth in five Iranian cities named Lanjan, Gomishan, Fasa, Tehran, and Zahedan in 2015-2016. The questionnaire was based on the constructs of the theory of planned behavior as well as a questionnaire of pedestrian behavior and driving behavior, which was completed before and after the intervention. The educational intervention was carried out based on the theory of planned behavior. Finally, the obtained data were analyzed using STATA software.

RESULTS

Six months after the intervention, the mean score of the theory of planned behavior and safe driving behavior in different cities was significantly increased. Here, regarding the safe crossing of the street, the most behavioral changes were observed in Gomishan (P = 0.000), Fasa (P = 0.001), and Tehran (P < 0.0001). The mean score of driving behaviors in Gomishan (P < 0.000), Fasa (P = 0.016), Lanjan (P = 0.047), and Tehran (P < 0.0001) scores was significantly higher.

CONCLUSIONS

In most of the studied cities, it can be concluded that education based on the theory of planned behavior can improve the safe driving behaviors among youth. Therefore, it is recommended to be implemented this program in other cities using the theory of planned behavior.

The Effect of Parental Phubbing on Teenager's Mobile Phone Dependency Behaviors: The Mediation Role of Subjective Norm and Dependency Intention

PURPOSE

The aims of this study were to examine (a) the effects of parental phubbing on teenagers' mobile phone dependency and (b) the mediating roles of subjective norm and dependent intention of underlying this relationship.

METHODS

We recruited 605 middle school students in Beijing, China and they completed the parental phubbing behaviors, subjective norm, dependency intention, and mobile phone dependency behavior questionnaires.

RESULTS

The results of the structure equation modeling revealed that parental phubbing behaviors significantly increased teenager's mobile phone dependency behaviors in two indirect ways. First, parental phubbing reinforced teenagers' mobile phone dependency intention, which in turn increased the likelihood of mobile phone dependency. Second, parental phubbing enhanced the tendency of parental mobile phone dependence norm perceived by teenagers, and thus reinforced their mobile phone dependency intention, ultimately increasing mobile phone dependency.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that parental phubbing is a significant indicator of teenager mobile phone dependency and that mobile phone dependency intention plays a mediation role between them. In addition, the perceived parental mobile phone dependency norm played a mediation role between parental phubbing and mobile phone dependency intention and indirectly influenced the level of mobile phone dependency behaviors through the mediation effect of mobile phone dependency intention.

Contributors to pedestrian distraction and risky behaviours during road crossings in Romania

OBJECTIVE

Pedestrian fatalities due to collisions with motor vehicles are a large public health problem in Romania, ranking them among the highest in Eastern Europe. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of crash factors by examining how roadway and environmental characteristics contribute to pedestrian distraction and risky behaviours at pedestrian MVC (PMVC) locations in Cluj County, Romania.

METHODS

A sample of PMVC locations was selected from the 2010 Cluj County police reported crash database for on-site examination. A total of 100 sites were visited to collect details on site characteristics and typical pedestrian and driver behaviours. Variable distributions were examined and rate ratios of pedestrian distraction and risky behaviours were calculated.

RESULTS

Pedestrian distraction and risky behaviours were observed at rates of 6.3 and 24.3 per 100 observed pedestrians. The majority of distractions were related to electronic device use. Risky behaviours were evenly split between unpredictable, partial use of a crosswalk and midblock illegal crossings. Distractions and risky behaviours decreased as the number of pedestrians and average vehicle speeds at a site increased. RR of distraction was higher at intersections and locations with crosswalks.

CONCLUSIONS

Pedestrian distraction was highly correlated with pedestrian risky behaviours at PMVC locations in Romania. Higher pedestrian volume was protective against pedestrian distraction and risky behaviours. Locations with painted crosswalks had increased distraction. Targeted distraction prevention, particularly at intersections and crosswalk locations, may contribute to the prevention of PMVCs.

Do as I say, not as I do: Distracted driving behavior of teens and their parents

INTRODUCTION

Driver distraction is an important contributor to crash risk. Teenage driver distraction can be influenced by the attitudes and behaviors of parents. This study examined teens' and their parents' engagement in distracting behavior while driving.

METHOD

Survey data were collected from a national sample of 403 parent-teen dyads using random-digit dialing telephone interviews.

RESULTS

Results demonstrated few parent or teen sex differences in distracting behavior engagement while driving, or in their perceptions of each others' behavior. Parents and teens' frequencies of distracting behavior engagement were positively correlated. Parents' and teens' perceptions of each others' distracting behavior engagement while driving exceeded their own selfreports. Finally, the likelihood that teens reported engaging in distracting behavior while driving was more strongly associated with their perceptions of their parents' distracting behavior than by parents' self reports of their own behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that parents' examples of driving behavior are an important influence on teen driving behavior, but potentially more important are teens' perceptions of their parents' behaviors.

Post and during event effect of cell phone talking and texting on driving performance--a driving simulator study

OBJECTIVE

A number of studies have been done in the field of driver distraction, specifically on the use of cell phone for either conversation or texting while driving. Researchers have focused on the driving performance of drivers when they were actually engaged in the task; that is, during the texting or phone conversation event. However, it is still unknown whether the impact of cell phone usages ceases immediately after the end of task. The primary objective of this article is to analyze the post-event effect of cell phone usage (texting and conversation) in order to verify whether the distracting effect lingers after the actual event has ceased.

METHODS

This study utilizes a driving simulator study of 36 participants to test whether a significant decrease in driver performance occurs during cell phone usage and after usage. Surrogate measures used to represent lateral and longitudinal control of the vehicle were standard deviation (SD) of lane position and mean velocity, respectively.

RESULTS

RESULTS suggest that there was no significant decrease in driver performance (both lateral and longitudinal control) during and after the cell phone conversation. For the texting event, there were significant decreases in driver performance in both the longitudinal and lateral control of the vehicle during the actual texting task. The diminished longitudinal control ceased immediately after the texting event but the diminished lateral control lingered for an average of 3.38 s. The number of text messages exchanged did not affect the magnitude or duration of the diminished lateral control.

CONCLUSION

The result indicates that the distraction and subsequent elevated crash risk of texting while driving linger even after the texting event has ceased. This finding has safety and policy implications in reducing distracted driving.